The 36th day of the World Culture Festival 2025 marked the International Day of Persons with Disabilities at ACP

 By: Aziz khatri 

  Karachi:  Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi celebrated the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on the 35th day of the ongoing World Culture Festival 2025 with a showcase of inclusion and creativity. The event included a theatre workshop, an open mic session with performances by international artists, a film screening, and a theatre performance from Italy.

The event titled “Celebrating the International Day of Persons with Disabilities” was attended by notable personalities, including Secretary, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Taha Ahmed Farooqui; President, Arts Council, Muhammad Ahmed Shah; Additional Secretary, Attar Ali Barero; Deputy Director, SPDPA, Dr. Ratna Diwan; and Regional Director, Karachi, Farman Ali Tanori. A large audience, especially disabled children from various institutions, including students of Skenoka School, Karachi Vocational Training Center, Banai Foundation, Darul Sukoon, Addario, and School for the Blind and Deaf, were present on the occasion.

A lively musical performance filled the venue with joy, as children enthusiastically sang patriotic songs like “Jeeve Jeeve Pakistan,” “Lal Meri Pat,” and “Shukraya Pakistan.” Secretary Taha Ahmed Farooqui praised the organization of the event and credited Muhammad Ahmed Shah for organizing the celebration. He stressed the need for society to embrace and accommodate children with disabilities, “Wherever you go, take these children with you.”

Reinforcing the message of inclusion, President Muhammad Ahmed Shah said, “No society that does not include people with disabilities in its celebrations can be called civilized.” He announced the establishment of a dedicated desk for children with disabilities at the Arts Council to facilitate interaction with artists from around the world, highlighting that “these children are like flowers.”

The open mic session highlighted the contributions of artists representing various countries, including Algeria, Azerbaijan, Italy, Germany, and many others. The discussion focused on the growing use of AI tools like ChatGPT, with speakers noting the importance of human creativity and emotion in the arts, saying that AI can help, but it cannot replace the essence of artistic creation.

The festival also included a theatre workshop led by Sri Lankan director Ruwanthi De Chakira, where international artists and students from the Arts Council Theatre Academy learned modern acting techniques. Additionally, the film screening featured “Amr Ayyar,” directed by Azfar Jafri with a screenplay by Atif Siddiqui.

The day concluded with an Italian theatre performance, “The Acting Class,” written by Marta Fumagali and directed by Francesca Bizzarri and Goffredo Picchetti. The comedic drama, revolving around the misadventures of a student facing a language barrier, captivated the audience, and ended the celebration with hearty applause.

The International Day of Persons with Disabilities celebration at the World Cultural Festival not only highlighted the capabilities of people with disabilities, but also the importance for society to promote inclusion and appreciation of diversity in all its forms.